After Arriving in the United States

Document Check-in at International Services (MANDATORY)

After arriving in the United States you must visit the IS office for a Document Check-in session. Attendance for Document Check-in is mandatory (including students transferring from another U.S. institution). Transfer students already in the U.S. are also required to attend a session to confirm their attendance to Montclair State University and to start the process of completing the transfer of their SEVIS record. For your Document Check-in bring the following with you:

Passport

I-94 card (white card stapled in the passport)

I-20 or DS-2019

Passports, I-94 cards, and I-20s or DS-2019s of any accompanying dependents

Letter from your sponsor if you are a sponsored student on F-1 status

Copies of all previous I-20s if you are a transfer student

During check-in copies will be made of the above documents and a student file will be created at IS. Information will also be provided on how to log in to your student account (WESS), create a Montclair email account, and register for the mandatory International Student Orientation. IS staff members will be there to answer any other questions you may have.

Tuesday, January 8 11:00 a.m. College Hall 310

Monday, January 14 10:00 a.m. College Hall 310

Thursday, January 17 1:00 p.m. College Hall 310

Each session will last approximately one and a half hour. Please arrive before the start of the session, as latecomers will not be allowed in after the session starts. Students that arrive before January 14 or transfer students that are already in the U.S. are encouraged to come to an earlier Document Check-in session listed above. Space is limited so register for a session at https://msuintlservices.wufoo.com/forms/spring-2013-document-checkin-registration-form/

Testing

English as a Second Language (ESL) Test:

All undergraduate and graduate degree-seeking international students whose native language is not English are required to take this test. Exchange students on a J-1 visa studying for one or two semesters are not required to take this test. Degree seeking students on J-1 visa studying for a full time degree program are required to take the test.

If you are transferring from another U.S. school, you are not required to take this test if you have completed English Composition I and II. The test consists of four parts: a multiple-choice structure test, a multiple-choice listening comprehension test, a one page reading selection with 5 short-answer questions, and a written summary of the reading selection. The test is in paper-and-pencil format, and there is no practice test on the web to access.

Please note: If after taking the ESL test you are required to take remedial English courses, then you will have to register and pay for the courses. Those courses will not count towards your overall degree requirements.

Date: Monday, January 14, 2013

Time: 1:45 p.m. (approximately 2.5 hours)

Location: Schmitt Hall Room 135

Montclair State University Placement Test (MSUPT):

All undergraduate degree students with fewer than 24 credits are required to take this test. Exchange students on a J-1 visa studying for one or two semesters are not required to take this test. Degree seeking students on J-1 visa studying for a full time degree program are required to take the test.

Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Time: 1:00 p.m. (approximately 3 hours)

Location: Morehead Hall Room 139

Orientations

Freshman Orientation

Freshmen Students are those that are starting their undergraduate program after completing secondary school. All freshmen students are required to attend Freshman Orientation.

Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Time: 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Location: Conference Center, 7th Floor, University Hall

Please note: The Freshman Orientation includes advising in the afternoon (after 1 p.m.), but International Students will receive advising on Friday January 18, at 2:00 p.m. Students should leave the orientation to make sure they have enough time to attend the MSUPT test in the afternoon (see above)

The Graduate Student Orientation provides opportunities to learn more about Montclair State University and specifically its campus, services, faculty, staff, and administrators. It also presents new students with a great way to meet fellow graduate students and their future classmates. For more information on the date and time visit the Graduate Admission office at www.montclair.edu/graduate

Graduate Advising

Graduatestudentsmust be advised by their Graduate Program Coordinator before they can register for classes. Please contact your Program Coordinator and set up an appointment before leaving your home country. Visit http://www.montclair.edu/graduate/new/gpcs.php to find out who your coordinator is. Keep in mind that you must first take the English as a Second Language Test (if applicable) before meeting with your advisor to register for classes.

International Student Orientation (MANDATORY)

All new F-1 and J-1 international students, including freshmen, transfer students from another U.S. Institution and those students who changed their status to F-1 student must attend the Mandatory International Student Meeting. Apart from the Freshmen Orientation, Transfer Session Day, or Graduate Orientation you are required to attend this mandatory Orientation. Failure to attend the orientation will result in a hold on your registration for the following semester. The orientation will cover important information about your F-1 or J-1 status, including maintaining status, employment, social security numbers and travel. We will also provide information about the U.S. culture, academic success, staying healthy and the health insurance, opening a bank account, campus life and more. If your spouse accompanies you, he/she is invited to attend.

Date: Friday, January 18, 2013

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Conference Center, 7th Floor, University Hall

Students are required to stay for the entire orientation. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the orientation. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.